Do you consider these corals to be LPS or SPS?

[thamnasteroid]

I'm talking like Cyphastrea, Leptastrea, Psammocora, Leptoseris, Pavona, Astreopora, Hydnophora, Pachyseris, etc.

In my opinion, Cyphastrea and Hydnophora are LPS, as they are Merulinids. Leptastrea and Psammocora to me are also the same, as they are basal to the Fungiids (Leptastrea are possibly sister to Heliofungia). Leptoseris and Pavona I feel are are SPS, as Agariciidae is sister to the Acroporids (Fun fact: both genera are likely congeneric, but the taxa haven't been revised yet). Astreopora, being an Acroporid, I would consider an SPS. Pachyseris, I am conflicted about; morphologically, it is similar to the Agariciids, but phylogenetically, it is basal to the Euphylliids. I would tentatively consider it to be an SPS.

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m on the fence. Both leptoseris but the first one seems LPS and the second seems SPS

 

[thamnasteroid]

the first one seems LPS and the second seems SPS

Elaborate

 

[Ooh fiddlesticks]

Elaborate

I’m not vintage reefer but I agree. In a world where we divide stony corals into only 2 groups, LPS and SPS, the one that appears to have larger polyps would be deemed by most to be LPS while the coral that appears to have small polyps would be labeled sps.
There really should be more categories, but this is where we, as hobbyists have drawn the line in the sand, a line that sometimes means nothing.
Particularly when it comes to the encrusting corals.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Cyphastrea and lephastrea lps for me

 

[VintageReefer]

Elaborate

The Jack o lantern has what resembles individual polyps making a larger colony, similar to a former favia coral

The golden tiger does not appear to have polyps, and is more like an encrusting sps

 

[thamnasteroid]

The Jack o lantern has what resembles individual polyps making a larger colony, similar to a former favia coral

The golden tiger does not appear to have polyps, and is more like an encrusting sps

Most encrusting SPS do have individual polyps though (eg. Montipora), and there are LPS without (eg. Platygyra)

 

[VintageReefer]

Most encrusting SPS do have individual polyps though (eg. Montipora), and there are LPS without (eg. Platygyra)

But these are big defined ones

Most encrusting SPS do have individual polyps though (eg. Montipora), and there are LPS without (eg. Platygyra)

I used wrong term.
Heads? Eyes?
Like this

A defined head/polyp with a central eye

 

[Hairyteeth]

Agreed platgyta has huge polyps

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’m not vintage reefer but I agree. In a world where we divide stony corals into only 2 groups, LPS and SPS, the one that appears to have larger polyps would be deemed by most to be LPS while the coral that appears to have small polyps would be labeled sps.
There really should be more categories, but this is where we, as hobbyists have drawn the line in the sand, a line that sometimes means nothing.
Particularly when it comes to the encrusting corals.

I can say I get confused a lot of times when something gets labeled as SPS or LPS. Further classification I feel like would alleviate some of the confusion but at the same time could cause more.

 

[thamnasteroid]

But these are big defined ones

I used wrong term.
Heads? Eyes?
Like this

A defined head/polyp with a central eye

Yeah, polyps/corallites

 

[Goaway]

Several coral have been divided from the species they were lumped into.

Welso, open brained coral are all now 1 family. I think?

Hammers/frogs/octospawn no longer euphyillia.. Acan pachysepta is still called a lobo by venders. I honestly think that's dangerous to other coral. Because acan pachy is aggressive and eats it's neighbors. Unless they are acans.

I just wonder if the coral placed into sps are there not just because of polyp size, but due to behavior. Or if it will change any time soon?

Cyphastrea, while I have seen very large polyps, some are much smaller. But, i also never seen them eat meaty foods. I couldn't keep them long. My urchin ate the ones I had. They also don't seem to be an aggressive coral like hydophora. Some call hydophora lps, others sps.... It gets so confusing.

So, do I think the coral listed are lps or sps? It's too complicated for me as I don't know why they some are placed in sps family.

Cyphastrea, leptastrea, psammocora, and pavona I have never witnessed eating anything over the size of reef roids. Pavona being the only real aggressive coral that can hold their own in that list. I would still keep them at sps due to diet and polyp size.

Does aggression matter? I don't know. I had an acro kill an encroaching monti. Unfortunately that piece is lost due to dino break out my tank suffered.

 

[CHSUB]

SPS LPS are hobby terms….

 

[thamnasteroid]

SPS LPS are hobby terms….

Yes, that's why I'm asking what you consider these corals to be

 

[CHSUB]

Yes, that's why I'm asking what you consider these corals to be

Both LPS, imo.

 

[twentyleagues]

They are at base hobby terms all lumped into lps. I am not 100% why is it scientific reasons like coralite size or something similar or more for their general care requirements being closer related to other lps.